Click to enlarge.. October 21, 2010 - Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Scotland has published a report entitled, Beyond smoke-free that offers recommendations for a new Scottish tobacco control strategy.

It sets out what Scotland must do now as a nation to tackle the health inequalities which are fed by smoking. The recommendations have been developed by ASH Scotland, funded by Cancer Research UK, working with an advisory group of experts involving academics, tobacco control practitioners and NHS representatives, and in consultation with smoking cessation and prevention practitioners, service users, young people and others.

ASH Scotland: It is time for a new, comprehensive and evidence based tobacco control strategy, taking stock of how far we have come, and setting a clear agenda for the next five years.

One major component is Prevention: The aim: to continue to reduce significantly the number of young people who start smoking within all communities in Scotland.15,000 young people take up smoking in Scotland each year. The Scottish Government's smoking prevention action plan 'Scotland's future is smoke-free' has been recognised as an excellent model. It must be fully implemented over the coming years, within the context of a holistic tobacco control strategy.